Self recovery practice tonight at Kenai beach

My buddy just got a PA 12 and we're gonna head out of Kenai north beach for some self recovery practice. Probably will be down there around 730. Might just have to drop some bait too and try for some halibut. Anyone in the area is welcome to join.

Great idea.  I just got done with a refresher myself.  My first attempt in a long time I thought I broke my nose.  lol.  The other several times went more smoothly.  lol.

My son at midnight on fire lake Monday.  Must be nice to be light enough that you can come up as vertically as he did.  lol.  He isn't touching the ground though it sort of looks like it. 

Great idea.  I just got done with a refresher myself.  My first attempt in a long time I thought I broke my nose.  lol.  The other several times went more smoothly.  lol.

My son at midnight on fire lake Monday.  Must be nice to be light enough that you can come up as vertically as he did.  lol.  He isn't touching the ground though it sort of looks like it. 

Nice job! I want to practice righting a capsized kayak as well. Any special techniques for that?

Nice job! I want to practice righting a capsized kayak as well. Any special techniques for that?

I think the accepted technique it to swim up and reach over to the other side and pull it over.  As high and wide as the outback rides, it might be difficult.  the secondary method is to get to one of the ends and twist it over.

Another thing to consider is use what you have available.  Many times in the big saltwater, we here in Alaska Carry a buoy.  you can attach that to the paddle and use it sort of like an outrigger to assist in getting in.  see the first part of this video around 2 minute mark. 
: 

If you have tethered fishing gear on the boat and especially if you have lines out, the boat has to be righted the opposite way it flipped, or you'll have a nightmare of fishing lines and rod leashes to sort out.  My Revo 16 is narrow enough that I can grab both side handles from under the boat, pull on the far handle and push up on the near handle and turn the boat over.  You won't be able to do that with an Outback or PA.  For the wider boats, you'll have to reach over the hull to grab something on the far side (or maybe get enough leverage by grabbing the drive fins), and pull the boat back over with your body weight. 

I would recommend trying a few recoveries with the boat "slick" (no fishing gear), then once you're comfortable with the motions try it with fishing gear on the boat (no hooks on the rods).  For example, my downrigger is a challenge that I wouldn't have expected if I hadn't rehearsed with gear on the boat. 

Because the best practice means immersing your fishing gear, I like to do my recovery practice in fresh water, so I don't have to worry about washing salt water out of everything. 

Another method for flipping an overturned kayak is putting a rigid item  (rod butt, harpoon handle,  etc...) through the scupper hole to give yourself a lever and pull it over.

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Thanks for all the advice guys. I never considered righting it the opposite way that it flipped. I'm hoping to have some chop out there  to make things more interesting/realistic. I like to practice like I play. Not likely to capsize in a fresh water lake.


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